Validity and reliability of <i>SmartShield</i> questionnaire for sexual abuse prevention among primary school children

Child sexual abuse is a critical public health issue, affecting one in eight children worldwide. This study evaluates the validity and reliability of the <i>SmartShield</i> questionnaires, designed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to sexual education and abuse prevention among primary school children. The <i>SmartShield</i> 1 and <i>SmartShield</i> 2 questionnaires underwent validation processes, including expert content validation, face validation with teachers, and internal structure assessment involving 167 children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The results indicated strong content validity index averages of 0.90 and 0.91, and face validity index averages of 0.87 and 0.89, both exceeding established cut-offs. Additionally, the internal consistency, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, showed acceptable values for both questionnaires. Overall, the <i>SmartShield</i> questionnaires are validated tools for assessing children’s knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding sexual education and abuse prevention. These instruments are valuable for future research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of sexual abuse prevention programs.